Mumbai: A political controversy has erupted in Maharashtra after the Congress referred to Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar as “Gungi Gudiya” (mute doll) in a social media post, drawing sharp criticism from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and other leaders.

The row began after the Maharashtra Congress shared a video from a press interaction in Beed district, where journalists attempted to question Sunetra Pawar about the law-and-order situation. The Congress alleged that NCP leader Dhananjay Munde prevented journalists from asking questions and claimed that Sunetra Pawar remained silent during the exchange. The party subsequently posted, “Sunetra Pawar, how many more days will you remain a ‘Gungi Gudiya’?”

सुनेत्रा पवार, अजून किती दिवस “गुंगी गुडिया” बनून राहतील ! pic.twitter.com/1Cgj9dZfBq

— Maharashtra Congress (@INCMaharashtra) August 3, 2026

NCP Demands Apology, Calls Remark Disrespectful

The remark triggered an immediate backlash from the NCP. Party workers disrupted a press conference at the Maharashtra Congress office in Mumbai, raised slogans and demanded that the Congress withdraw the statement and issue a public apology.

NCP spokesperson Umesh Patil criticised the Congress for using language that he said disrespects women. He also reminded the Congress that the same expression had once been used by political opponents against former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, questioning whether the party was now endorsing such language.

Congress Defends Comment

Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal defended the remark, saying it was not intended as an insult but as a description of Sunetra Pawar’s conduct during the press interaction. According to Sapkal, the Deputy Chief Minister chose not to respond despite questions being raised by journalists.

Reacting to the controversy, NCP (Sharad Pawar) leader Rohit Pawar said the context behind the incident should also be considered, noting that journalists had been prevented from asking questions and that Sunetra Pawar remained silent.

The exchange has intensified the political confrontation between the Congress and the NCP in Maharashtra, with both parties accusing each other of lowering the standards of political discourse.